Divisional Round Fantasy Football Matchups: QB, RB, WR & TE Breakdown

The Wild Card Round is in the books, and we know the matchups and dates/times for the Divisional Round. Just like we did last week, let's go over the matchups, in order to find the best/worst options for the week.

We will go over data for quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers and tight ends.

Check back later in the week for projections, rankings, start/sit content and more!

Fantasy football defensive rankings can be found all season on FantasySP.

Quarterbacks

The first matchup of the Divisional Round is an AFC clash between the Bills and Broncos. 

Both Buffalo's Josh Allen and Denver's Bo Nix will have tough matchups based on the regular season numbers. Denver allows 14 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, while Buffalo allowed just 13.

The other Saturday game is an NFC West showdown between the 49ers and Seahawks.

Seattle's Sam Darnold has an above-average matchup barely, as San Francisco allowed fantasy quarterbacks to score 17 fantasy points per game. San Francisco's Brock Purdy has a tougher test, with the Seahawks' defense only allowing 14 fantasy points per game.

The first game on Sunday is a clash between the Texans and Patriots.

Both quarterbacks have tough matchups. Houston allowed just 13 fantasy points per game, so New England's Drake Maye has a stiff test. On the other end of the field, Houston's C.J. Stroud goes up against a New England defense that allowed 15 fantasy points per contest.

The final game of the Divisional Round pits the Rams against the Bears on Sunday evening.

Los Angeles' Matthew Stafford has one of the few good matchups, with Chicago surrendering 19 fantasy points per game. LA's defense allows 16 fantasy points per contest, which is just below average, so Chicago's Caleb Williams is also set up decently.

Running Backs

The top running back matchup of the week belongs to the Broncos, as the Bills surrendered 24 fantasy points per game to the position. That was the eighth-worst mark in the league. That gives Denver's RJ Harvey a good outlook for the Divisional Round.

San Francisco allows 23 fantasy points per game to running backs, so Seattle's Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet could be decent fantasy options for the coming week.

Every other RB fantasy matchup is below average. Chicago allows 21 fantasy points per game, while the Rams and Texans give up 20. Seattle and New England each surrender 18 fantasy points per game, with Denver being the toughest matchup (17 points per game).

So that means Chicago's D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai, Los Angeles' Kyren Williams and Blake Corum, New England's TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson, San Francisco's Christian McCaffrey and Brian Robinson, Houston's Woody Marks and Nick Chubb and Buffalo's James Cook all have at least a bit lower fantasy outlook this week.

Wide Receivers

At wide receiver, the LA Rams' group gets the most favorable matchup by a longshot. Chicago allowed 37 fantasy points per game this season.

That puts Puka Nacua and Davante Adams in a great position to deliver big. 

The Bears' wideouts also get a top-10 matchup against the Rams, who allowed 33 fantasy points per game. That could help Rome Odunze, Luther Burden, D.J. Moore and Olamide Zaccheaus to decent fantasy outings.

The only other above-average matchup is the Seahawks against the Niners, who allowed 32 fantasy points per game. That's just barely an above-average matchup, ranking 15th in the league.

So Seattle's Jaxon Smith-Njigba should be in line for a big playoff showing after a great regular season. Cooper Kupp and Rashid Shaheed are the team's next-best options at wide receiver.

Every other wide receiver matchup ranks in the 20s. New England allows 28 fantasy points per game, while Buffalo and Denver each allow 27 points per game. Seattle and Houston each give up 26 fantasy points per contest.

Houston is led by Nico Collins, and will get help from Christian Kirk, Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel and Xavier Hutchinson. 

The Broncos had Courtland Sutton leading the charge during the regular season, with Troy Franklin, Marvin Mims, Pat Bryant and Lil'Jordan Humphrey as other options. 

The Bills are led by Khalil Shakir. With Gabe Davis out, Brandin Cooks, Keon Coleman and Tyrell Shavers are other options at wide receiver.

The 49ers have Jauan Jennings who has led the way most of the season. Demarcus Robinson starred in the Wild Card Round, and no other wideouts really helped out (even Jennings). Getting Ricky Pearsall back would be huge for the Niners, especially with George Kittle now out.

The Patriots have Stefon Diggs leading the charge most weeks, with help from Kayshon Boutte, Kyle Williams, DeMario Douglas and Efton Chism.

Tight Ends

The best tight end matchups reside in the same game. San Fran ranked as the eighth-worst defense in slowing fantasy tight ends, allowing 15 fantasy points per game. That's also how much the Seahawks' defense allowed, and they rank 10th.

With Kittle out, Jake Tonges has a chance to step up for the Niners. Luke Farrell will be another TE taking on some more snaps and maybe targets too. I'd also like to throw Kyle Juszczyk into the mix, even though he's more of a fullback - he helped out after Kittle went down in the first round, and would probably remain pretty involved if Pearsall was inactive again.

In Seattle, AJ Barner was the top fantasy option this season. With Elijah Arroyo out, Eric Saubert and Nick Kallerup could also play and factor in for the Seahawks.

Denver is another above-average matchup, but just barely, as they rank 15th, allowing 14 fantasy points per game. New England is next on the list, also allowing 14 points per game.

The Bills' tight ends are Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox. Both were similarly involved in the Wild Card Round, with Kincaid finishing as the better fantasy asset thanks to a touchdown grab.

Dalton Schultz has been the top tight end for Houston, but he struggled to get going in the first round of the playoffs. Cade Stover factored in a bit as well, so he's worth mentioning too.

The Rams allow 13 fantasy points per game. Colston Loveland was great in the first round, so he's the top tight end for the Bears. Cole Kmet is the No. 2 tight end and Durham Smythe would be the third option.

The Bears give up 12 fantasy points per contest. Los Angeles had Tyler Higbee and Colby Parkinson both help out in the first round of the playoffs. Higbee had more yards, but a touchdown from Parkinson helped him to a better fantasy score.

Houston allowed 12 fantasy points per game as well. New England has Hunter Henry at tight end - he was good in the Wild Card Round. Jack Westover and Austin Hooper are other options. 

The Broncos' tight ends have the toughest fantasy test, as Buffalo allowed just seven fantasy points per game this season. Evan Engram was the top Denver tight end this season, and Adam Trautman and Nate Adkins are also on the roster.